Station selection by printer selector



, 1940. D. s. HULFISH STATION SELECTION BY PRINTER SELECTOR Aug. 13

Filed Jan. 17, 1938 A 1 3 Y u X a m 7 all? FIG.3

' INVENTOR. DAVID S. HULFISH Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES STATION SELECTIGN BY PRINTER SELECTOR David S. Hulfish, Chicago, 11., assignor to 'lleletype Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application January 1'7,

15 Claims.

The present invention pertains to telegraph communication systems and more particularly to such systems involving a plurality-of stations arranged with instrumentalities for their selec- 5 tive interconnection for telegraph communication.

An object to be attained by the invention is a method of operation of such a system to effect transmission of messages, which involves a minimum number of operative steps preparatory to transmission of intelligence and subsequent to the conclusion of the transmission of intelligence.

A further object of the invention is the provision of simple and reliable circuits and mechanisms for enabling any station of a telegraph system to select another station or plurality of stations with which it is desired to communicate.

A still further object of the invention is to enable an originating station to establish, before and during operations of selecting a desired station or stations, conditions by which all stations of the system are prevented from interrupting an established communication or the processes of establishing a connection for communication.

Another object of this invention is to provide automatic means for answer-back communication such that when a station has responded to its calling code signal transmitted from a controlling station, a response signal or answerback signal shall be transmitted upon the connecting line and recorded at the controlling station.

It is a further object of the invention to effect disconnection of all operating stations and release of all disabled stations by a single con-' trolling step which may be performed at any operating station.

Further features. of the invention reside in the provision of means to manifest at all times the communicative or idle condition of the line circuit as well as the communicative or idle condition of each station apparatus, and to manifest at an excluded station sufl'lcient detail of an existing connection to enable the. operator of the excluded station to obtain useful information concerning the state and identity of a communication from which the station is excluded.

The above and other objects of invention are attained by utilizing a plurality of printing telegraph sets each having as a part thereof a motor driven printer selector and a driving motor therefor to which keys, relays, and visual signals are added at each station to effect a method of operation according to the present invention;

1938, Serial No. 185,341 (Cl. 178-2) namely, that an operator at one station may'start all motors to drive all selectors, then by utilizing the printer selector in concomitant function of a station selector may indicate and modify all stations desired for communication, then may disqualifyv all non-indicated and non-modified stations by stopping their motors or otherwise, after which the indicated stations may intercommunicate between or among those stations exclusively.

A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1. illustrates a line having an indefinite number of connected stations, one station being shown in detail and two other stations being indicated diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 illustrates detail of a snail mechanism for motor control; and.

Fig. 3 illustrates an alternative mechanism for motor control.

InF-ig. l is illustrated a line circuit I!) passing in series through three stations A, C, and E in each of which stations there is provided the following apparatus: a galvanometer II, a line relay IZ, a permutation code signal transmitter l3, 2. starting key i l, a stopping key I5, and a shunt circuit I6 extending to contact and armature H of a selecting relay Hi to disable contact 3 of transmitter i3 and keys I 4, I5. A printer selector magnet 2i] is connected in a circuit in series with battery 2|, slow-to-release relay 22, and contacts of line relay i2, the magnet 20 being provided with'a shunt 23 controlled by contact and armature 24 of disabling relay 25.

The printer selector, of which the magnet 20 is apart, may be according to the disclosure of Patent No. 1,904,164issued to S. Morton et al. In that patent, and specifically in Fig. 27 thereof, there is disclosed selectively operated mechanism which, in responseto a letter code, both prints a letter and closes momentarily an electrical contact. Three such elements are shown in Fig. 1;, namely, element 30 which will close contact 3 i,,,when letter A is printed, element '32 which will close contact 33 when letterY is printed, and element which willclose contact 35 when letter,X is printed. The letters printed may be selected arbitrarily but have a relation among the several stations. Contacts Y and X are uniform throughout all stations but element 30 at station 0 will be associated with the printing of letter C, and element-Mlv at station E will be associated with printing the letter E.

A keyboard transmitter, indicated by a key lever and code bars 36 is provided at each station and has associated with it at each station a magnet 3'! whose armature 38 will depress a single key lever 39. This key lever by its identity will determine the answer-back signal transmitted by a station upon its selection and the answer-back signal may be the same as the calling code signal for the station or may be otherwise as indicated at B, D, and F. A motor 4| is arranged to drive the selector controlled by magnet 28, and also to drive a threaded member 42, Figs. 1 and 2, which engages and moves a snail member 43 to a definitive position wherein the snail member engages and opens a pair of contacts i l. The snail member is urged in rotary manner by a spring 45 and is loosely mounted axially so that it may be rocked transversely by a spring 56 (Fig. 2). The snail member also constitutes an armature member for a magnet l"! and further it may be engaged by a bell crank member 48 pivoted at 49 to be engaged by a power bail 50 at every operation of the power bail for printing purposes. At every printing operation the power bail 50 engages and rotates the bell crank member 48 which, in turn, engages the snail member 43 and lifts the snail member 33 from its screw threaded member 52 thus permitting spring 45 to return the snail member to a starting position, not shown, after which spring 46 draws the screw thread follower point of the snail member into engagement with the threaded member 52. The contacts 44 close an energizing circuit for a motor relay 5| whose contacts close the energizing circuit of the motor A signal lamp 52, preferably colored, is energized by contacts of relay 25 when energized, and a signal lamp 53, preferably white, is energized by contacts of relay |8 when energized.

The function of relay I8 is to enable operation of the station by opening shunt l5 thereby qualifying the permutation transmitter l3 and the start and stop keys l4 and I5. The function of 'relay 25 is to disqualify a station from reception of intelligence by shunting the selector magnet 29. The function of relay I2 is to transmit line signals to selector magnet 20 when that magnet is not disqualified by relay 25 and to transmit line signals to relay 22 at all times, the relay 22 being responsive to signals from keys I4 and IE but non-responsive to telegraphic intelligence signals from transmitter I3 by reason of its slow to-release nature. The function of galvanometer is to notify an observing operator whether the line circuit I0 is or is not being utilized for active transmission of intelligence at times when by reason of an energized condition of relay 25 the observing operator is without any means of observation other than the galvanometer Locking circuits are provided for relays I 8, 25 and 5% which are closed by the relays at the time of their energization and which may be opened only by slow-to-release relay 22 under control of an operating station.

Operation of the apparatus above-described is as follows: Assuming that an operator at station A desires to communicate with station C and to exclude stations E and others connected to the line H), the operator finds the line in condition of rest with a constant current which produces a steady deflection on all galvanometers I At all stations, contacts shunt all contacts |3, l4, l5, and at all stations, a contact 54 in unenergized relay 25 prepares a circuit'for energization of relay l8 under control of contacts 55 in key M.

Operator at station A operates key M until motor 4| starts at his station. Operation of key M opens the main contacts of the key which, however, are shunted by armatiue I! and also closes contact 55 of the key M which energizes relay l8 over a circuit from battery, left-hand winding of relay l8, contact 55, contact and armature 54 of relay 25 to ground. Energization of relay I3 opens the contact of armature H which, key M being held open, opens the circuit of line I0, which reverses all relays |2 and interrupts current through relays 22 at all stations. After a period sufficient to release the armatures of all slow-to-release relays 22, a circuit is closed at every station, including station A, extending from battery, through snail magnet 41, conductor 66, back contact and armature 56 to ground. This attracts all snail members 43 which are returned by springs 45 permitting contacts 44 to engage thus closing at each station an obvious circuit for motor relay 5| which, in turn, closes the energizing circuit of motor 4| including motor ll at station A. The operator at station A observing the start of his motor releases the starting key M which recloses the line H] and reenergizes all relays 22 which forms an obvious locking circuit for relay i3 at station A, but at no other station because at no other station has relay I8 been energized. Operator at station A now strikes key C of his keyboard transmitter 5'! thus transmitting over line l8 a permutation code signal which prints C at all stations, and at station C closes contact 3|, which energizes magnet 37 at station C over a circuit which may be traced at station A through battery 58, winding of magnet 31, back contact and armature of relay EB, and contact 3| to ground. Energization of magnet 37 and operation of its armature 38 at station C depresses key lever D and closes a circuit which may be traced at station A from battery, through winding of relay !8, and contact of armature 38 to ground thus energizing relay !8 at station C which forms its locking circuit through armature 56 and opens contact of its armature l! thus rendering effective its permutation transmitter l3 which, in response to operation of key lever D and code bars 35 at station C, transmits the code signal D upon line l0, which code signal is recorded at all stations including station A. The operator at station C tions and which at station E and other unselected stations closes a circuit for energization of relay 25 which may be traced in station A from battery, through winding of relay 25, armature and back contact of unenergized relay l8, and contact 35 to ground, but at stations A and C and any other selected station, if A has selected a plurality of stations, the relay H3 is in energized condition and by reason of its open back contact, it will prevent the energization of relay 25 at such station. Energization of relay 25 will illuminate colored lump 52 at every such station, whereas energization of relay H] has already illuminated white lamp 53 at each selected station including station A. In each station in which the relay I8 is energized, the permutation transmitter 3 controls the line circuit IQ for transmission of intelligence code signals, and selector magnet 20 is operable in response to line signals because it has not been shunted by armature 24 of-relay 25. On'the "other-hand, at stations All where relay 25 has been operated and relay [8 has not beenoperated, no action can occur at the station other than vibration of the indicator hand of galvanometer because at each such station transmitter l3 and keys I4, l5 remain shunted by armature ll of unoperated relay I8, and magnet 20 is shunted by operated armature 24 of relay 25.

Transmission of intelligence from station A to station C and from station C tostation A now may be carried on and at the termination thereof either station A or station may operate key l5, which will deenergize relay 22 at all stations and after a time delay sufiicient to release the armature 56 at all stations, locking circuits of all relays I8 and 25 may be opened, thus relays will be released at all stations, and lamps 52 and 53 will be extinguished at all stations. The operator at station A or C, noting that his lamp is no longer illuminated, may release the key l thus restoring all apparatus except snail member 43, relay 5|, and motor 4| to the original condition of rest. After an interval of time, the snail member 43 will engage and open its contacts 44 thus deenergizing relay 5| which deenergizes motor 4|, restoring all equipment to the original condition of rest. Thus a single act, by key l5, restores to original idle condition both the operative stations and the excluded stations.

A station desiring to connect for intercommunication purposes all of the stations on the circuit may do so by the transmission of the code combination of impulses for the letter Y instead of the code combinations for the letters C and X in the example chosen for illustration. The transmission of the code combination of impulses for the letter Y will cause the operation of the pull bar 32 for that letter at each of the respective stations. Closure of the contact controlled by such pull bar will establish an energizing circuit for the electromagnet 31 at each of the stations for the operation of its key bar 39 and the setting of the code bars 36 through which a group of impulses identified with such setting may be transmitted. The operation of the system following the energization of electromagnet 31 is identical with the operation described for the selection of station C. Furthermore, restoration of the system to normal is the same as that previously described for the other selection.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative device for the snail member illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; When the device in Fig. 3 is utilized, the contacts 44, Fig. 1, are replaced by armature and contacts 66, the magnet 4'! is replaced by Winding of relay GI, and a circuit 62 extends from winding of magnet 6|, through cam contacts 63 operated by a cam 64 fixed to the start-stop selector shaft 65 of the selector controlled by magnet 20, Fig. 1, or the contacts may be operated by a printing bail as 50. Upon release of the armature 56 of relay 22, a circuit is closed through relay 6 I, conductor 66, and armature 56 to ground, which attracts the armature of relay 6| to close contact 60 substituted for contacts 44 to energize motor relay 5| after which each printing operation under control of magnets 2|! rotates shaft 65 and cam 64 one revolution and closes contact 63 momentarily to supply an impulse of current over an obvious circuit to relay 6| thus holding contacts 60 closed throughout transmission of intelligence and .permitting contact 6|] to: open to stop the motor 4| after cessation of transmission of intelligence. The delay period of slow-to-release relay BI is comparable to the delay period of snail 43.

As applied to printers other than the printer specified in the patent to Morton et al., it will be necessary to apply contacts to letter members upon the printer in any convenient manner and to cause the bell crank 48 or contact members 63 to be struck in any convenient manner by any member which is operated in the process of printing each character. Thus, the invention here illustrated may be applied to printing devices of any type.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, station equipments connected in series in said line circult, said station equipments including permutation code signal transmitting contacts, and including also shunting contacts connected around the said signal transmitting contacts at all stations of the said line circuit when the line circuit is not in use, and selective means responsive to signals in said line circuit originated by one of said permutation code signal transmitting con tacts andoperating to open said shunting contacts at others of said permutation code signal transmitting contacts selectively station by station.

2. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, stations connected in series in said line circuit, signaling contacts connected in series in said line circuit, a single shunting contact connected in said line circuit to form a shunt around all of said signaling contacts, and a means manually operable at one station and controlling said shunting contact to remove said shunt from said signaling contacts at said one station.

3. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, stations connected in series in said line circuit, signaling contacts connected in series in said line circuit, shunting contacts connected in said line circuit to shunt said signaling contacts, means at a station manually operable and controlling said shunting contact to remove said shunt from said signaling contacts at said station, and locking means for retaining said shunting contact open after a single operation of said manual means.

4. Ina telegraph system, a line circuit, stations connected to said line circuit, signaling contacts at said stations connected in series in said line circuit, shunting contacts connected in said line circuit at said stations to shunt said signaling contacts, a manually operable key at a station having signaling contacts in said line circuit and having further contacts controlling said shunting contacts to remove said shunt from said signaling contacts at said station, and locking means for retaining said shunting contacts open at said station after a single operation of said manual key.

5. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, a plurality of station equipments serially connected in said line circuit including at each station transmitters for intelligence signals, shunt circuits at each station for said transmitter, means responsive to a manually operated key at each station for removing said shunt circuit at said station, and means responsive to a signal in said line circuit for removing said shunt circuit selectively at other stations.

6. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, a plurality of station equipments connected to said line circuit including transmitters at each station for intelligence signals, shunt circuits at each station for said transmitters, manually controlled means at each station for removing said shunt circuit at said station, and means at each station responsive to a signal in said line circuit for rendering said= shunt circuit unresponsive to said manually controlled shunt removing means.

'7. In a telegraph system, a line circuit, a plurality of station equipments connected to said line circuit including transmitters and recorders at each station, manual means at a station for rendering a transmitter and recorder at said station fully operable, signal responsive means at said station for rendering said transmitter and recorder fully operable, and signal responsive means at said station responsive to a signal in said line circuit for rendering non-operable said transmitter, said recorder, and said manual means.

8. In a telegraph system, a telegraph line, a plurality of stations connected to said telegraph line, a non-operative transmitter and an operative selector at one of said stations, means at said station for enabling said transmitter, means at said station for disabling said selector, and a signal transmitter at another station for controlling alternatively one or the other of said means.

9. In a telegraph system, a telegraph 1ine, stations connected to said telegraph line, non-operative transmitters and operative selectors at a plurality of said stations, means at said stations for enabling said transmitters, means at said stations for disabling said selectors, and a signal transmitter at another station for controlling alternatively one or the other of said means at said plurality of stations, station by station selectively.

10. In a telegraph system, a telegraph line, a plurality of stations connected in series in said telegraph line, transmitters and selectors at said stations, means in each station for disabling said transmitters, locking means at each station responsive to signals in said line for enabling said transmitters, locking means at each station responsive to signals in said line for disabling said selectors, and means at each station to transmit signals in said line for controlling alternatively one or the other of said locking means at each station.

11. In a telegraph system, a telegraph line, a plurality of stations connected to said telegraph line, normally non-operable transmitters and normally operable receiving recorders at said stations, signal responsive locking means at each station for rendering said transmitters operable, signal responsive locking means at each station for rendering said recorder non-operable, signal responsive means at each station for controlling alternatively one or the other of said locking means at each station, and signal responsive means at all stations, common to both of said locking means at every station, and responsive to a common controlling signal for unlocking both of said locking means at all stations.

12. In a telegraph system, a telegraph line, telegraph stations connected to said line, station selector means responsive to signals in said line, and answer-back means responsive to said station selector means and operative by its response to disable itself from further response.

13. In a telegraph system, a telegraph 1ine, telegraph stations connected to said line, station selector means responsive to signals in said line, answer-back means responsive to said station selector means, and means operable by said answer-back means and operating to disable said answer-back means.

14. In a telegraph system, a telegraph line,

telegraph stations connected to said line, normally non-operable transmitters connected in said line at said stations, selector means at said stations responsive to signals in said line, answerback means directly responsive to said selector means at said stations, and means operable by'-' said answer-back means at a station to render said transmitter operable at said station and thereafter to transmit an answer-back signal thereby.

15. In a telegraph system, a telegraph line,

telegraph stations connected to said line, normally non-operable transmitters connected in said line at said stations, selector means at said stations responsive to signals in said line, answerback means directly responsive to said selector means at said stations, means operable by said answer-back means at a station to render said transmitter operable at said station and thereafter to transmit an answer-back signal thereby,

and locking means associated with said operable transmitter to maintain said transmitter in operable condition after said answer-back signal has been transmitted.

DAVID S. HULFISH. 

